bat communities in four dobrogean caves (romania) › cercetare › contracte › pd326-pocora ›...

Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011

BAT COMMUNITIES IN FOUR DOBROGEAN CAVES

(ROMANIA)

Irina POCORA and Viorel POCORA “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania, Faculty of Biology, Blvd. Carol I no.11, 700506; e-mail:

[email protected]

Abstract. In this study, the community composition and abundance of cave-dwelling bat fauna of Dobrogean

karst is presented in our census data (2006-2009). Four underground shelters from Dobrogea (Constanța County)

were investigated: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, Casian Cave, Limanu Cave and Hagieni Tunnel. In the

Dobrogean karst we’ve identified a total number of 13 species of chiropters, based on direct observation and by

capturing bats in the nets: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis

aurascens (Myotis mystacinus bulgaricus), Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis

oxygnathus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Eptesicus serotinus, Vespertilio murinus, Plecotus austriacus and Plecotus

auritus. The dominant bat species in the karst of Dobrogea are: Myotis oxygnathus (41.1%), Myotis daubentonii

(24.1%) and Miniopterus schreibersii (16.7%).

Keywords: cave-dwelling bats, dynamic, protection, Dobrogea

Rezumat. Comunitățile de lilieci din patru peșteri din Dobrogea (România). În acest studiu, pe baza datelor

de monitorizare colectate (2006-2009), am prezentat compoziția comunităților și abundența liliecilor de peșteră

din carstul din Dobrogea. Au fost investigate patru adăposturi subterane din Dobrogea (județul Constanța):

Peștera Liliecilor de la Gura Dobrogei, Peștera Casian, Peștera Limanu și Tunelul Hagieni. În carstul dobrogean

am identificat, în total, 13 specii de chiroptere, pe baza observației directe și a capturării liliecilor în plase:

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis aurascens (Myotis

mystacinus bulgaricus), Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis oxygnathus,

Miniopterus schreibersii, Eptesicus serotinus, Vespertilio murinus, Plecotus austriacus și Plecotus auritus.

Speciile de lilieci dominante în carstul dobrogean sunt: Myotis oxygnathus (41,1%), Myotis daubentonii (24,1%)

și Miniopterus schreibersii (16,7%).

Cuvinte cheie: lilieci de peșteră, dinamică, protecție, Dobrogea

Introduction

Several species of Romanian bats traditionally breed in underground sites and

many of them rely on such places for at least part of their hibernation period. Bats also use these sites for a variety of purposes, such as for mating roosts or night roosts, during

feeding or during inclement weather. Two of the species from Dobrogea’s karst live

exclusively in caves during the entire year: Rhinolophus mehelyi and Miniopterus

schreibersii.

The first record of bats in Dobrogea refers to the species Rhinolophus mehelyi

(Barti 2005) and date from the beginning of the 20th century. The researchers from “Emil

Racoviță” Speological Institute present a series of data concerning the spread of chiropters

in the karst from Dobrogea: Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), „La Adam” Cave (CT), Cave

from Visternei Valley (near Târgușor – CT), Limanu Cave (CT), Ghilingic Cave (CT),

Cișmeluță Cave (Șipote village, Deleni commune – CT), Cave no. 2 Canaraua Fetii (CT),

Cave no. 1 and Cave no. 2 from Muntele Consul (TL) (Dumitrescu et al., 1958; Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963; Dumitrescu et al., 1965; Dumitrescu, 1969).

Profira Barbu publishes the monograph of Miniopterus schreibersii in 1960, the

author specifying that the Schreiber’s bats with the largest waist were found in Bats Cave

from Gura Dobrogei. Valenciuc & Ion (1971) follow nocturnal activity of the bats from

the same cave. Cerveny (1982) has studied the caves from the Dobrogea’s karst in the

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Irina Pocora & Viorel Pocora

warm season from 1874 and 1979. With the help of chiropterologic nets, he brought a

series of new data concerning the situation of the summer colonies from the caves: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, “La Adam” Cave, Cave from Valea Cheii and Limanu Cave.

The author has captured 103 bats from 10 different species. The species Myotis brandtii

was recorded for the first time in Romania by Grimmberger (1993), based on a captured

individual at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei - CT.

Răduleț (1994) reports the species Myotis capaccinii for the first time in

Dobrogea, at Hagieni Tunnel. In 1996 Răduleț & Stănescu present data concerning the

chiropters from: Cave from Canaraua Fetii, Cișmeluță Cave and Hagieni Tunnel. In 1966,

Răduleț reported also, for the first time, the presence of the Hypsugo savii species in the

Romania’s fauna, based on a male captured in the second half of May 1993, from under

the eaves of the silvic canton from Băneasa (CT).

After the year 2000, only few publications treat the chiropterofauna from

Dobrogean karst (Nagy et al., 2005; Răduleț, 2005; Ifrim & Pocora, 2007; Murariu et al., 2009; Nagy & Postawa, 2010).

Because the composition of bats colonies from the Dobrogean caves changed

dramatically in the last decades, we wanted to complete the data from 2007 (Ifrim &

Pocora, 2007). The aim of this study was to raise an alarming signal concerning the

situation of these colonies and the antrophic impact. The present study follows the

changes in the specific composition of the chiropters and their dynamic in some shelters.

Material and methods

The study area:

Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei is located about halfway between the village

Târgușor and the village of Gura Dobrogei and is part of the Natural Reservation "Gura Dobrogei" (Andrei & Popescu, 1966).

Woody vegetation. Around the caves from Gura Dobrogei evolves woody

vegetation sometimes represented by isolated bushes of Prunus spinosa or Crataegus

monogyna. In the majority, the woody species are associated in a formation which

predominates: Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens, Viburnum lantana, Jasminum

fruticans, to which there are added: Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Ulmus procera, U.

foliacea, Berberis vulgaris, Pirus piraster, Malus pumila var. dasyphylla, Acer

campestris, Padus mahaleb, Euonymus europaea, E. verrucosa, Syringa vulgaris (Andrei

& Popescu, 1966).

Cave description. The main cave entrance is dug at a height of 45 m above the

talweg of the valley. The cave is dug in the band of Jurassic limestone that goes through

the center of Dobrogea in West-East direction. This entrance is partially hidden by shrubs. The total length of the galleries is of 480 m. The cave presents three openings: I, the main

entrance is 2 meters large and 1.5 meters high, oriented towards North (Fig. 1). In the

Pottery Gallery, located in the arch from the Southern extremity of the hall, the largest

birth colony of Rhinolophus mehelyi from Europe was found in the 60’s. During the birth

period, Rhinolophus mehelyi was associated with the species: Myotis myotis, Rhinolophus

ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersii (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963).

Previous research on this cave and at „La Adam” Cave, have disclosed the

presence of 18 species of chiropters: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus

hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis brandtii, Myotis

bechsteinii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis,

Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri, Myotis oxygnathus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Vespertilio murinus and Miniopterus schreibersii

(Dumitrescu et al., 1958, 1962-1963, 1965; Valenciuc & Ion, 1971; Cerveny, 1982;

Grimmberger, 1993; Nagy et al., 2005; Nagy & Postawa, 2010).

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Figure 1. Sketch of Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (The Speleological Institute “Emil Racoviță”).

Casian Cave was a paleontological site as the caves “La Adam” and Bats Cave

from Gura Dobrogei (Bleahu et al., 1976). The cave is located at 5 km North-West from

the Târgușor train station, along the Casimcea valley, near the monastery with the same

name. The access is made through a metal ladder. The entrance is at 6 m height, having

2.5-3 m width and 4.5-5 m height. The cave is located in the middle of a slope covered by

vegetation similar to the one from Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei. The limestone that

shows on the surface is wrinkled with fissures. Nagy & Postawa (2010) record 3 species

of bats at this cave: Myotis oxygnathus, Plecotus auritus and Eptesicus serotinus.

Limanu Cave is located near the shores of Black Sea and Mangalia town. The

cave is surrounded by a rocky steppe area, at about 200 m from Mangalia Lake and a pine

plantation. The cave became popular at the beginning of the 20th century, being also known as: Cave from Icoane, Cave from Baltă, Caracicola Cave. The cave is dug in the

plateau of the right coast of Mangalia Valley, at 500 m upstream from Limanu village, in

limestone deposits belonging to the superior Sarmatian (Bessarabian and Kersonian, 26 m

altitude). The network of underground galleries that constitute the labyrinth from Limanu

was dug by men, having as starting point the old natural cave (Fig. 2). The length of the

mapped galleries is of 3200 m.

In 2005, The Group of Subaquatic and Speological Explorations (GESS) from

Constanța closed the cave with a massive door of steel, protected in sides by 0.5 m thick

concrete walls. A narrow window of rectangular form (about 20cm × 50cm) was left,

through which the bats may come out and back.

Previous researches at this cave have disclosed the presence of 9 bat species:

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus,

Miniopterus schreibersii (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963, 1965; Cerveny, 1982; Nagy &

Postawa, 2010).

Hagieni Tunnel is located in the forest with the same name. The Forest Hagieni is

protected through the law 5/2000 and is administered by Ocolul Silvic Basarabi.

Characterization of vegetation. The forest is formed by several characteristic

trees: the oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), the downy oak (Quercus pubescens),

Q. pedunculiflora, the manna ash (Fraxinus ornus). The shrub level is dominated by

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Cornus mas, Cotinus coggyria, Crataegus monogyna, Paliurus spina-cristi, Jasminum

fruticans etc. (Fuhn & Cristureanu, 1977).

Figure 2. Sketch of Limanu Cave (The Speleological Institute “Emil Racoviță”).

Shelter description. The tunnel is located in the North-Eastern area of the forest.

It was dug in 1950 and used as a munitions depot. The tunnel presents 2 entrances (A and

C), located at South-West, with the length of 8.5 m and height of 2.2m (Fig. 3). The total

length of the tunnel is 131.5 m, with a width of 1.5 m and height up to 3 m (Răduleț,

1994).

Previous research on this tunnel disclosed the presence of 6 bat species:

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis

capaccinii, Plecotus auritus, Miniopterus schreibersii (Răduleț, 1994; Răduleț &

Stănescu, 1996; Nagy et al., 2005; Nagy & Postawa, 2010).

Figure 3. Sketch of the Hagieni Tunnel: L – length; l – width; A, B, C – passages; 1, 2, 3 –

rooms (Răduleț, 1994).

Data collection. The study at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei took place in the

period 2006-2009 and consisted of 12 visits at the site. The bats from the cave were

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numbered in both cold and warm season. From May to September, 284 bats from 9

species were captured with a 3 m long net. Those formed nursery and summer colonies or simply visited the cave for mating.

In the period 2006-2008, at Casian Cave were made 6 visits. 49 bats from 6

species were captured with mist-nets of 3 and 12 meters in length.

At Limanu Cave the study took place during 2006-2008, with 8 visits. During

May-September, 161 bats from 3 species were captured with mist-nets (3 and 12m).

At Hagieni Tunnel there were 4 visits, in the period 2007-2008. 44 bats from 3

species were captured using the 3 m length nets, placed at a single entrance (during the

first visit), or both entrances (at the second visit).

At the caves from Dobrogea karst, the mist-nets were placed from May up to

September, in order to study the changes in the composition of the bats in the cave and the

types of colonies. The mist-nets were anchored from sunset up to 1:00 AM.

The species were determined by using identification keys (Schoeber & Grimmberger, 1996; Valenciuc, 2002; Decu et al., 2003; Dietz & Helversen, 2004) and

morphometrical measures. The tools used: sliding calipers, magnifying glass (×10), digital

photo camera, Pesola scale of 60 g, mist-nets of 3m, 7m and 10 m, time expansion

detector Tranquility, Sony minidisc, Batbox Duet heterodyne detector.

Results and discussions

1. Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei – Constanța county

During the study, nine species of bats have been identified: Rhinolophus

ferrumequinum, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis aurascens (Myotis mystacinus bulgaricus),

Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis oxygnathus, Miniopterus schreibersii,

Plecotus austriacus and Plecotus auritus. With time expansion detector, located at the entrance, Pipistrellus nathusii/Pipistrellus kuhlii was also recorded.

In the 60’s and 70’s, in the Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei was quartered a

colony of about 7000 bats (Cerveny, 1982). Now the colony is about 250-260 bats in the

summer and 120-130 bats in winter (Table 1). Unfortunately in the last winter seasons

(2008-2009), winter colony fell down to 20-30 bats.

Winter colony consists mainly of species Myotis oxygnathus (67.6%) and

Rhinolophus ferrumequinumm (28.4%), occasionally being encountered the species:

Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis daubentonii, Plecotus austriacus and Plecotus auritus

(Tabel 1).

Nursery colony is formed in April-May, breaks up in July and consists mainly of

Myotis oxygnathus species, which together with Miniopterus schreibersii represent 85.8%

from the total number of captured bats. In the nursery colony, some exemplars of Myotis aurascens are likely present, only one lactating female being caught. During this period,

some other species visit the cave too: Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis daubentonii,

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Plecotus austriacus.

In August, the breeding colonies are formed. Based on catches in the mist nets,

breeding colonies consists mainly of: Myotis daubentonii (30.2%), Miniopterus

schreibersii (27.6%) and Myotis oxygnathus (22.4%). Some species visit the cave during

this period, but only in the night: Eptesicus serotinus (10.4%), Rhinolophus

ferrumequinum, Plecotus austriacus. The species: Myotis bechsteinii and Plecotus auritus

were captured occasionally (Table 2).

In terms of bat monthly dynamics in the cave, the fewest bats were found at the

beginning (September) and at the end (March) of the hibernation season (Fig. 4). In October-November, bats come in the cave for hibernation. It’s likely that some of the bats

that hibernate in caves are from the nursery colony. This conclusion is supported by the

fact that one Miniopterus schreibersii, ringed at the cave in July 2000, was found in

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November in the cave (Anca Dragu, pers. comm.). The bats leave the cave in March-

April.

Table 1. Bats species from Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, on Fossil Gallery (1) and on Pottery

Gallery (2).

Date M. oxy. R. fer. M. sch. M. dau. P. aur./P.aus. E. ser. Total

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

31.07.06 200 10 - - 10 20 - - - - - - 210 30

28.08.06 50 100 - - - - - - - - - - 50 100

14.12.06 95 5 19 - - 1 1 - 1 - - - 116 6

09.02.07 70 - 29 - 2 - - 6 - - - - 101 6

12.05.07 200 - 5 - 50 - - 2 - - - - 257 -

17.06.07 190 - - - 45 20 1 - - - - 1 236 21

24.09.07 15 - 9 - 5 - 2 - - - - - 31 -

23.11.07 27 5 37 - - - - 1 - - - - 64 6

08.03.08 17 - 8 3 - - - - - - - - 25 3

28.02.09 3 - 21 - - - - - 1 - - - 25 -

Table 2. The specific component of captured bats at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei.

Date Min. sch. M. oxy. M. dau. E. ser. R. fer. M. aur. P. aus. P. aur. M. bec. Total

27.06.06 6 9 - 2 1 1 1 - - 20

31.07.06 3 12 - 5 2 - - - - 22

01.08.06 3 11 2 9 - - - - - 25

28.08.06 13 2 22 2 1 1 - - - 41

12.05.07 13 6 1 - - - 1 - - 21

17.06.07 12 9 - 1 - - - - 1 23

24.09.07 23 7 12 2 4 - 5 1 - 54

21.05.08 12 12 1 3 - - - - - 28

05.09.08 11 11 22 2 2 - - 1 1 50

Total 96 79 60 26 10 2 7 2 2 284

Figure 4. Monthly dynamics of bats observed in Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, in the two

galleries (Fossil Gallery – I and Pottery Gallery - II).

From the bats caught in the mist nets, the following species prevailed:

Miniopterus schreibersii (34%), Myotis oxygnathus (28%) and Myotis daubentonii (21%)

(Fig. 5). However, from the bats observed in the cave throughout the year, the species

Myotis oxygnathus (Tabel 1) represents 78% of all bats (Fig. 5).

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Figure 5. Specific component of captured bats at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (up) and of

observed bats in the cave, throughout the year (down).

2. Casian Cave – Constanța county

During the present study, we identified 7 species of bats: Rhinolophus

ferrumequinum, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis oxygnathus, Plecotus

austriacus, Vespertilio murinus and Miniopterus schreibersii. At cave entrance, with the

help of time expansion detector, the species Nyctalus noctula and Pipistrellus pipistrellus

were identified. There is a possibility that all the captured species shelter in the cracks

around the cave.

In June, Casian Cave shelter males forming summer colonies outside the cave:

Myotis oxygnathus, Myotis daubentonii, Plecotus austriacus and Eptesicus serotinus. Nursery colonies are formed in the cracks outside the cave, by the species: Vespertilio

murinus, Eptesicus serotinus and Plecotus austriacus (we captured lactating females or

offspring’s). In the breeding period, we captured the species: Myotis oxygnathus, Myotis

daubentonii, Miniopterus schreibersii and Plecotus austriacus. In winter, the following

species were observed: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis oxygnathus and Myotis

daubentonii (one individual).

From the captured bats (Table 3), Myotis oxygnathus was the most abundant

(60%) and commonest species (Fig. 6).

Table 3. Bat species caught at Casian Cave.

Date M. oxy. M. dau P.aus. E. ser. M. sch. V. mur. Total

28.06.06 5 - - 3 - 2 10

29.08.06 1 2 - - - - 3

16.06.07 10 1 2 1 - 2 14

25.09.08 13 3 4 - 2 - 22

Total 19 6 6 4 2 2 49

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Figure 6. Specific component of captured bats at Casian Cave.

3. Limanu Cave – Constanța county At Limanu Cave, 3 species of bats were captured in the mist nets: Rhinolophus

mehelyi, Myotis daubentonii and Plecotus auritus. At the entrance of the cave, we took

recordings with the aid of the time expansion detector. 6 species of bats were identified

while transiting the place to the foraging area (Mangalia Lake): Eptesicus serotinus,

Myotis capaccinii, Pipistrellus nathusii/Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus,

Nyctalus leisleri and Nyctalus noctula. Wintering monitoring was made in a small portion,

as the cave is very difficult to be studied: very intricate, the walls with many cracks and

lacks a complete mapping. We observed few exemplars of Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis

daubentonii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros.

The mist nets were located at the main entrance, but starting with 14.04.2007, the

mist nets were placed at a secondary entrance (80cm × 120cm), where the majority of bats

leave the cave at night. At Limanu Cave, the species Rhinolophus mehelyi and Myotis daubentonii

(Table 4) are present all year long. In the warm period, the species form nursery colonies

of 50-100, respectively 100 exemplars. From the captured species, M. daubentonii is the

most abundant – 86% (Fig. 7).

While during the birth period the sex ratio is of 3.5 females: 1 male, in the

breeding period the male and female ratio is balanced.

Table 4. Species of bats captured at Limanu Cave.

Date M. dau. R. meh. P. aur. Total

26.06.06 19 - - 19

30.07.06 22 - - 22

27.08.06 17 - - 17

11.05.07 1 - - 1

14.06.07 8 1 - 9

23.09.07 20 5 - 25

19.05.08 41 8 - 49

04.09.08 10 8 1 19

Total 138 22 1 161

Figure 7. Specific component of captured

bats at Limanu Cave.

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4. Hagieni Tunnel – Constanța county

Based on observations, mist net capture and time expansion detector; we identified 7 species of bats: Rhinolophus mehelyi, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis

emarginatus, Myotis daubentonii, Miniopterus schreibersii, Plecotus auritus and Plecotus

austriacus. On a single transect in the forest that surrounds the tunnel, we identified the

following bat species using the expansion detector: Eptesicus serotinus, Nyctalus noctula,

Pipistrellus nathusii/Pipistrellus kuhlii and Pipistrellus pygmaeus.

Among bats caught in the mist net, Miniopterus schreibersii was the most

abundant, with 68% (Table 5, Fig. 8). In the warm season, Miniopterus schreibersii,

Myotis daubentonii and probably Myotis emarginatus form nursery colonies.

In the winter season we found the species Miniopterus schreibersii and Plecotus

auritus (Table 6). On 20.05.2008, we observed a single individual of Rhinolophus

hipposideros in the cave.

Table 5. The species of bats observed in Hagieni Tunnel.

Date M. sch. M. dau. M. ema. P. aur. Total

14.05.07 40 10 6 - 56

15.06.07 3 6 4 - 13

08.03.07 19+9* - - 2 30

Total 71 16 10 2 99

* 9 dead Schreiber’s bats, crushed with stones

Table 6. Species of captured bats from Hagieni Tunnel. Date M. sch. M. dau. P. aus. Total

15.06.07 - 3 - 3

20.05.08 30 10 1 41

Total 30 13 1 44

Figure 8. Specific component of captured bats (left) and observed bats from Hagieni Tunnel (right).

Species of bats from Dobrogean karst

The dominant bats in the karst of Dobrogea are: Myotis oxygnathus, Myotis

daubentonii and Miniopterus schreibersii, species characteristic for this type of habitat.

The species Eptesicus serotinus, Plecotus austriacus, Rhinolophus mehelyi and

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum are to be considered accessories for the undergrounds in

Dobrogea. The other identified species are rare in the studied region, being accidentally observed/caught: Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis aurascens, Myotis bechsteinii,

Myotis emarginatus, Plecotus auritus and Vespertilio murinus (Table 7, Fig. 9).

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Table 7. Percentage values and class of ecological indices: dominance (D), frequency (F) and ecological significance index (W), based on observations and captures of bats, in karst of Dobrogea.

Species No. ex. Dominance Frequency W

% % %

E. serotinus 16 2.1 D3 50 C2 1.1 W3

M. aurascens 1 <0.4 D1 25 C1 0.1 W1

M. bechsteinii 1 <0.4 D1 25 C1 0.1 W1

M. daubentonii 185 24.1 D5 100 C4 24.1 W5

M. oxygnathus 315 41.1 D5 50 C2 21 W5

P. auritus 3 <0.4 D1 50 C2 0.2 W2

P. austriacus 11 1.4 D2 75 C3 1.1 W3

V. murinus 2 <0.4 D1 25 C1 0.1 W1

M. schreibersii 128 16.7 D5 75 C3 12.5 W5

R. ferrumequinum 47 6.1 D4 50 C2 3.1 W3

R. hipposideros 2 <0.4 D1 50 C2 0.2 W2

R. mehelyi 50 6.5 D4 25 C1 1.6 W3

Figure 9. The composition of bat species in undergrounds from Dobrogea.

Abbreviations used: f – female, flact – lactating female, fpreg – pregnant female,

m – male, a – adult, j – juvenile, ex. – exemplar, col. – colony. Abbreviations used for

different working methods: o. (observation), c. (captured in the mist nets), d.e. (time

expansion detector).

Myotis oxygnathus (Monticelli, 1885) – Lesser Mouse-eared Bat Material: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 2006-2008: 150-200 ex.

(nursery col.); 100-150 ex. (breeding col.); ~100 ex. (winter col.); 27.06.2006: c. 6 flact,

3am; 31.07.2006: 3 af, 1 flact, 3 am, 5 jm; 1.08.2006: c. 2 af, 1 flact, 7 am, 1 jm; 28.08.06:

c. 1 ex.; 15.05.2007: c. 3 af, 3 am; 17.06.2007: c. 1 af, 6 flact, 2am; 24.09.2007: c. 7 am;

21.05.2008: c. 2 af, 8 fpreg, 1 am, 1 jm; 5.09.2008: c. 4 af, 5 am, 2 ex.; 28.02.2009: o. 3

ex.; - Casian Cave, 28.06.2006: c. 5 am; 29.08.2006: c. 1 am; 9.02.2007: o. 1 ex.;

16.06.2007: c. 10 am; 25.09.2007: c. 3 af, 10 am.

Previous records: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 1955-1958, col. of M.

myotis/M. oxygnathus (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); 12.08.1968: few ex. of Myotis

myotis (Valenciuc & Ion, 1971); 17.07.1974: 4000-5000 ex. M. oxygnathus (summer col.),

c. 2 am, 1 jm, 2 af, 2 jf; 31.07.1979: 150-200 ex. M. oxygnathus (summer col.), c. 6 jm, 1

af (Cerveny, 1982); 11.01.2004: M. oxygnathus (Chachula, pers. comm.); winter: 60 ex, summer: 100 ex (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Peștera din Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.74: c. 1

m (Cerveny, 1982); summer: 1 ex. Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Limanu Cave (CT), 4.10.58:

câteva ex. M. myotis; - „La Adam” Cave (CT), 1956-1958: subfossils remains of M.

myotis; - Ghilingic Cave (CT), 1956-1958: subfossils remains of M. myotis (Dumitrescu et

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al., 1962-1963); - Constanța: M. myotis (Valenciuc, 2002); - Casian Cave (CT), 11.01.04:

M. myotis (Chachula, pers. comm.); summer: 2 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010). In the Dobrogean caves, the presence of Myotis myotis is uncertain. The species

was recorded here by Dumitrescu et al. (1962-1963) and Valenciuc & Ion (1971). Neither

we nor Cerveny (1982) have identified the species. At Limanu Cave, in the winter of

2005, Anca Dragu from “Emil Racoviță” Speleological Institute of Bucharest found a

skeleton of M. myotis (pers. comm.). Some specimens that we caught have the forearm

over 60 mm, but all were females and is well known that females are larger than males.

In the caves from Dobrogea, we encountered Myotis oxygnathus at Bats Cave

from Gura Dobrogei (78%) and at Casian Cave (60%), this being the dominant species for

dobrogean karst, with 41.1% (Table 7). Unfortunately, out of the 4000-5000 exemplars

that formed a birth colony at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (Cerveny, 1982), remained

about 150-200 exemplars in 1979 and this number remained constant up to present. It

seems that most bats left the shelter between 1974 and 1979 (Cerveny, 1982). At Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, Myotis oxygnathus forms a nursery colony of

~ 200 bats, confined in a vault of Fossil Gallery, at 6-8 m high. The spacious room of

Fossils Gallery is more advantageous, as here the temperature and humidity are higher;

the colony stationed here during the birth and care of offspring’s, even if the disturbance

is greater. Unfortunately, because the cave is part of the package tour, it is often visited by

groups of dozens of unauthorized persons, which disturb bats especially during nursery

colony. On the 28.08.2006, the breeding colony of M. oxygnathus was confined on Pottery

Gallery, in a crack in the ceiling, at about 7 m high. Most probably the species preferred

this area of the cave in the past, as few people reach this gallery.

At Casian Cave, Myotis oxygnathus forms summer colony (of males), a breeding

colony, and in winter it appears accidental, probably more individuals being confined in rock cracks. During this study (2006-2008), we could no longer identify Myotis

oxygnathus at Limanu Cave.

Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817) – Daubenton’s Bat

Material: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 28.08.2006: c. 4 af, 2 jf, 13 am,

2 jm; 9.02.2007: o. 6 ex.; 12.05.2007: c. 1 af; 24.09.2007: c. 2 jf, 4 am, 6 jm; 23.11.2007:

o. 1 ex; 21.05.2008: 1 am; 5.09.2008: c. 4 af, 1 jf, 8 am, 7 jm, 2 ex.; - Limanu Cave (CT),

26.06.2006: c. 3 af, 8 flact, 5 jf, 3 jm; 30.07.2006: c. 9 af, 1 flact, 5 jf, 3 am, 3 jm, 1 ex.;

27.08.06: c. 12 af, 5 am; 11.05.2007: c. 1 af; 14.06.2007: c. 2 af, 3 flact, 3 am;

23.09.2007: c. 8 af, 2 jf, 3 am, 7 jm; 18.03.08: o. 2 ex.; 9.05.08: c. 10 af, 20 fpreg, 1 flact,

9 am, 1 jm; 4.09.08: c. 5 af, 1 am, 3 jm, 1 ex.; - Casian Cave (CT), 29.08.2006: c. 1 af, 1

am; 16.06.2007: c. 1 am; 25.09.2007: c. 1 af, 1 am, 1 jm; 8.03.2008: o. 1 ex.; - Hagieni

Tunnel (CT), 15.06.2007: c. 3 am, o. 4 ex.; 20.05.2008: c. 4 fpreg, 5 am, 1 jm; - Babei Cave din Cheile Dobrogei (CT), 29.08.2006: o. 3 ex.

Previous records: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 31.07.1979: c. 1 am

(Cerveny, 1982); winter: o. 5 ex.; summer: 1 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010), - Limanu Cave,

summer: 25 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010).

In the karst of Dobrogea, Myotis daubentonii is the dominant species with 24.1%

(Table 7), 12% at Casian Cave, 21% at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 30% at Hagieni

Tunnel and 86% at Limanu Cave.

At Limanu Cave we identified a nursery colony. Data from literature indicates

that colonies are formed in late spring, birth taking place usually in June, up to mid-July.

The colonies break up in late summer. During the study we met lactating females, since

the second half of May. It seems that at Limanu Cave, the females give birth in the second half of May until mid-June. We found M. daubentonii in the cave throughout the year,

during mating and hibernating periods.

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Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei is visited by Daubenton’s bat in August-

September (breeding period) and few exemplars stay in the cave during the winter. From the captured bats in the breeding period, Myotis daubentonii is the most abundant species

(30.2%).

At Casian Cave, Daubent’s bat is present during the breeding season (August-

September) and in the winter, too. At Hagieni Tunnel, in June 2007 there was a small

summer colony formed by males and in May 2008 we indentified a nursery colony, as

pregnant females were captured.

Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1819) – Schreiber’s Bat

Material: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 27.06.2006: c. 6 am;

31.07.2006: c. 1 af, 2 am; 1.08.2006: c. 1 af, 1 jf, 1 jm; 28.08.2006: c. 10 af, 3 am;

12.05.2007: c. 6 af, 7 am; 17.06.2007: c. 2 af, 1 flact, 9 am; 24.09.2007: c. 1 af, 8 jf, 6 am,

8 jm; 21.05.2008: c. 3 af, 6 fpreg, 1 jf, 2 am, 1 jm; 5.09.2008: c. 2 jf, 8 jm, 1 ex.; birth col.

of 50-100 ex.; winter, max. 2 ex.; - Casian Cave (CT), 25.09.2007: c. 1 af, 1 am; - Hagieni Tunnel (CT), 15.06.2007: o. 3 ex.; 8.03.2008: o. 17 ex. and 9 ex. dead; 20.05.2008: c. 5 af,

9 fpreg, 14 am, 2 ex. (2 ringed am NMNH – SOFIA A00490 and A00450).

Previous records: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 1955-1958: winter and

summer col. fossils remains (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); 26 m și 13 f were collected

(Barbu, 1960); 12/13.08.68: summer col. (Valenciuc & Ion, 1971); 16.07.1974: summer

col. of 2000-3000 ex., c. 3 am, 6 af; 31.07.1979: summer col. of 100-200 ex., c. 1 am, 2 af

(Cerveny, 1982); winter: 3 ex., summer 6 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - „La Adam” Cave

(CT), 1956-1958: fossile remains (Dumitrescu et al., 1958, 1962-1963); - Cave from

Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.74: c. 6 am, 1jm, 3 af, 1 jf; - Visternei Valley, 1.08.1979: c. 1 f

(Cerveny, 1982) - Limanu Cave (CT), April 1906: 2 f, leg. Montandon A. L. (Barti,

2005); 4.10., 2.11. 1958-1965: winter col. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963, 1965); - Peștera La Cișmeluță (CT), 3.07.1958: col. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); 22.05.95: summer col.

Of 150 ex. (c. 6 f and 6 m) (Răduleț & Stănescu, 1996); - Hagieni Tunnel (CT),

12.07.1992: 1 f; 22.05.1993: col.; 24.10.1996: o. winter col. (Răduleț, 1994; Răduleț,

2005); 10.01.2004 (Chachula, pers. comm.); winter: 90 ex., summer: 66 ex. (Nagy &

Postawa, 2010).

In the karst of Dobrogea we identified Schreiber’s bat in almost all the

investigated caves, excepting Limanu Cave. Here, we believe that the iron door that closes

the cave keeps the species from sheltering in the cave. As abundance, this is the third

species in Dobrogean karst, with 16.7% from the total of bats at the 4 caves (Table 7):

68% at Hagieni Tunnel, 34% at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 4% at Casian Cave.

At the Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, within 5 years (1974-1979), the nursery

colony decreased from 2000-3000 exemplars to 100-200 exemplars (Cerveny, 1982). At present time, the birth colony counts ~ 100 exemplars. In June 2006 we caught only adult

males and then a summer colony of about 50 males was quartered in Pottery Gallery. In

2007 and 2008, at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, Miniopterus schreibersii forms the

nursery colony together with Myotis oxygnathus; probably females in those two species

give birth in the beginning of June. In the winter we observed up to 2 individuals.

At Hagieni Tunnel, Schreiber’s bat hibernates and forms a small nursery colony.

In May 2008, two ringed individuals were captured. The rings belong to the Museum from

Sofia (A00429-A00498, A00404). On 01.08.2000, were ringed 60 Schreiber’s bats.

Ringing was made by a joint team of Romanian and Bulgarian specialists (Nagy Zoltan,

Laci Szanto, Teodora Ivanova and Boyan Petrov, pers. comm.), in order to find possible

links with some colonies in Northern Bulgaria, but not been confirmed so far by the Bulgarians. In the same year, on 30th of July 2000, at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei 6

miniopters were ringed (A00423 - A00428, 68). One of them was found dead, by Anca

Dragu from Speleological Institute of Bucharest, on 13.11.2005 (NMNH-SOFIA/A00426)

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(pers. comm.). Victor Gheorghiu, from the same Institute, found a dead male at the same

cave on 22.08.2005 (NMNH-SOFIA A00424) (Murariu & Gheorghiu, 2007). Rhinolophus mehelyi (Matschie, 1901) – Mehely’s Horseshoe Bat

Material: Limanu Cave (CT), 9.0220.07: o. 3 ex.; 14.06.2007: c. 1 flact;

23.09.2007: c. 1 af, 4 am; 8.03.2008: o. 2 ex.; 19.05.2008: c. 1 af, 3 fpreg, 4 am;

4.09.2008: 7 af, 1 am; birth col. of ~ 50 ex.; 28.02.2009: obs. 1 ex.; – Hagieni Tunnel

(CT), 15.06.2007: d.e. 1 ex.

Previous records: Dobrogea: 1 f in the private collection of Mottaz C., quote by

Miller, 1912 (Barti, 2005); - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 1956-1965: birth col.

of 5000 ex. and winter col., skeletal remains (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963; Dumitrescu et

al., 1965); 12/13.08.1968: summer col. (Valenciuc & Ion, 1971); 17.07.1974: summer col.

of 500 ex., c. 4 am, 1 jm, 6 af, 2 jf; 31.07.1979: col. of 100-150 ex., c. 5 jm, 7 jf (Cerveny,

1982); 11.01.2004 (Chachula, pers. comm.); winter: 1 ex. (Nagy & Ppostawa, 2010); -

„La Adam” Cave, summer: 2 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Cave from Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.1974: c. 3 ex. (Cerveny, 1982); - Limanu Cave, April 1905: 2 f leg. Montandon A.

L, 1906 (Barti, 2005); 2.11.1958: col.; 1963, 1964: winter col. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-

1963; Dumitrescu et al., 1965); 21.07.1974: c. 5 am, 3 jm, 11 af, 2 jf (Cerveny, 1982);

17.07.2004 (Chachula, pers. comm.); summer: 75 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); -

Cișmeluță Cave (CT), 3.07.1958: 2 m; 22.05.1993: 2 f, 1 m; 22.07.93: 1 m; - Hagieni

Tunnel (CT), 22.05.93: 2 m (Răduleț & Stănescu, 1996).

Once this was the most abundant species from Dobrogean karst and formed the

largest nursery and hibernation colonies from Europe. At present time, in the caves from

Dobrogea only few dozens of exemplars are to be found. In the 60’s, Rhinolophus mehelyi

formed a nursery colony of 4000-5000 individuals at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei; the

number of bats fell down to 500 individuals (1974) and to 100-150 individuals (1979). In the period 2006-2008 we have not seen any exemplar belonging to this species at Bats

Cave from Gura Dobrogei.

At Limanu Cave we found a small nursery colony of 50-100 exemplars. The

birth takes place probably at the end of May and in the beginning of June. Mehely’s

horseshoe bat may be observed in the cave all throughout the year, also during the

breeding and hibernation period. In hibernation, the bats were in holes in the ceiling, at

1.5-2m high. Because its labyrinthine layout, the size of the cave (3 km) and as there is no

complete map, we couldn’t determine how many exemplars of Rhinolophus mehelyi are

hibernating. The cave is warm in winter, thus providing proper shelter for this species.

In the 60’s, Rhinolophus mehelyi was a characteristic species for Dobrogea karst.

Now, in Romania, the species is critically threatened and prone to extinction. The remnant

population forms maternity and hibernation colonies in a single location (Limanu Cave) situated in southern Dobrogea (Dragu & Borissov, 2011). The same authors confirm for

the first time the low genetic diversity of this species in Romania.

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) – Greater Horseshoe Bat

Material: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 14.12.2006: o. 20 ex.;

27.06.2006: c. 1 am; 31.07.2006: c. 1 af, 1 am; 28.08.2006: c. 1 af; 9.02.2007: o. 29 ex.;

24.09.2007: c. 2 am, 1 jm; 25.09.2007: o. 9 ex.; 23.11.2007: o. 37 ex.; 8.03.2008: o. 10

ex.; 5.09.2008. c. 1 af, 1 am; 28.02.2009: o. 21 ex.; – Casian Cave (CT), 14.12.2006: o. 2

ex.; 9.02.2007: o. 1 ex.; 16.06.2007: d.e.; 17.12.2008: o. 1 ex.; - Peștera Babei din Cheile

Dobrogei (CT), 29.08.2006: o. 3 ex; - Limanu Cave, 17.12.2008: o. 1 ex.; - Hagieni

Tunnel, 17.12.2008: o. 1 ex.

Previous records: Cave no. 1 from Muntele Consul (TL), 12.09.1956: few ex.; 21.05.1997: o. 2 ex. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963; Răduleț, 2005); - Cave no. 2 from

Muntele Consul (TL), 25.09.1958: few ex. (Dumitrescu et al., 1958, 1962-1963); - Bats

Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 1955-1958: summer and winter col. (Dumitrescu et al.,

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1962-1963); 12/13.08.1968: summer col. (Valenciuc & Ion, 1971); 31.07.1979: summer

col. of 200-300 ex., c. 2 jm (Cerveny, 1982); winter: 14 ex., summer: 1 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); 11.01.2004 (Chachula, pers. comm.); - Peștera din Valea Cheii (CT),

18.07.1974: c. 1 jm (Cerveny, 1982); - Limanu Cave (CT), 4.10., 2.11.1958: col.

(Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); 21.07.1974: o. 2 ex. (Cerveny, 1982); - Hagieni Tunnel

(CT), 22.0519.93: 1 f (Răduleț, 1994); winter: 1 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Canaraua

Fetii (CT), 20.05.1993: 5 f, 2 m; 20.07.1993: 5 f; 26.06.1995: 9 f; - cod UTM - NJ 95; -

cod UTM – PK 00 (Decu et al., 2003).

At Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, Cerveny (1982) reports a big nursery colony

of 200-300 exemplars, found in 1979. Now in the same cave, in the summer there are

several individuals, but they no longer form a nursery colony. In the winter, we met up to

37 exemplars of Rhinolophus ferrumerquinum. The species is very poorly represented,

forming small summer and breeding colonies. In the winter, Greater Horseshoe Bat

represent 28.4% of total bat numbers hibernating in the cave. In this period, we observed the bats on Fossils Gallery. The majority of greater horseshoe bats came in the cave in the

breeding period and remains for hibernation.

We met the species in all the investigated caves, but the number of individuals

was low, as well as the frequency of the species, so Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is no

longer a characteristic species, as it was in the past.

Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber, 1774) – Serotine

Material: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 27.06.2006: c. 2 am;

31.07.2006: c. 4 am, 1 jm; 1.08.2006: c. 2 af, 7 am; 28.08.2006: c. 1 af, 1 am; 17.06.2007:

c. 1 am; 24.09.2007: c. 1 jf, 1 am; 21.05.2008: c. 3 am; 5.09.2008: c. 2 am; - Casian Cave

(CT), 28.06.2006: c. 2 flact, 1 am; 16.06.2007: c. 1 am.

Previous records: - „La Adam” Cave (CT), 1956-1957: fossils remains (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); - Constanța and Cernavodă (Călinescu, 1931); - Bats

Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 31.07.1979: c. 2 am, 1 jm (Cerveny, 1982); summer: 11 ex.

(Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Cave from Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.1974: c. 1 am; - Limanu

Cave (CT), 21.07.1974: c. 1 jm (Cerveny, 1982); - Casian Cave, summer: 1 ex. (Nagy &

Postawa, 2010).

It seems that Serotine visits Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei only at night, for

mating, sometimes an individual remains in the cave during the day (17.06.2007).

Serotine is not a cave-dwelling species and most of the bats captured only visited the cave.

In May-July we captured only males who entered the cave rather late, at around 12PM. In

August and September, captured males were four times more numerous than females.

At Casian Cave we captured lactating females on 28.06.2006. Serotine forms

nursery and summer colonies in the cracks around Casian Cave. Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829) – Gray Long-eared Bat

Collected data by the authors: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT),

27.06.2006: c. 1 am; 12.05.2007: c. 1 af; 24.09.2007: c. 1 af, 4 am; 28.02.2009: obs. 1 ex.;

- Casian Cave (CT), 16.06.2007: c. 1 flact, 1 am; 25.09.2007: c. 4 am; - Hagieni Tunnel

(CT): c. 20.05.2008: c. 1 am.

Previous records: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, 20.01.1956, few ex.

(Dumitrescu et al., 1958, 1962-1963); church from Tufani village (CT) 19.06.1996: o. 1

ex. (Răduleț, 2005); 11.01.04: Plecotus sp. (Chachula, pers. comm.); - Casian Cave,

11.01.2004: Plecotus sp. (Chachula, pers. comm.).

As this species visits the caves only at night, we captured only few individuals in

summer and in the mating season at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, Casian Cave and Hagieni Tunnel. At Casian Cave, the species forms nursery colonies in rocks’ fissures; a

lactating female was captured on 16.06.2007.

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Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Brown Long-eared Bat

Collected data by the authors: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 14.12.2006: 1 ex.; 24.09.2007: c. 1 am; 5.09.2008: c. 1 am; - Limanu Cave (CT),

4.09.2008: c. 1 jm; - Hagieni Tunnel (CT), 8.03.2008: 2 ex.

Previous records: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 20.01.1956: few ex.

(Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963), summer: 1 ex.; - Cheile Dobrogei, summer: 1 ex.; -

Casian Cave, winter: 1 ex., summer: 1 ex. (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Constanța, from R.

Călinescu, 1931; - Cernavodă (CT), from R. Călinescu, 1931 (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-

1963); - Hagieni Tunnel (CT), 2.12.1992: 1 f (Răduleț, 1994), summer: 2 ex. (Nagy &

Postawa, 2010).

Plecotus auritus is an accidental species for Dobrogean karst. We identified only

few individuals during hibernation or breeding period.

Myotis aurascens (Kusjakin, 1935) or Myotis mystacinus bulgaricus

Collected data by the authors: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 27.06.2006: c. 1 falăpt, 28.08.2006: c. 1 af.

Previous records: Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 7.08.1989: c. 1 am. M.

brandtii, new species for Romania (Grimmberger, 1993); Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei

(CT), 20.01.1956: col. of M. mystacinus; summer: 1 ex. M. mystacinus/M. brandtii

(Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963; Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - Cheile Dobrogei, summer: 1 ex.

M. mystacinus/M. brandtii (Nagy & Postawa, 2010); - “La Adam” Cave (CT), 1956-1958:

fossils remains of M. mystacinus; - Limanu Cave (CT), 2.12.58: 1 af of M. mystacinus

(Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); - Slava Cave (TL), January 1967: 1 am of M. mystacinus

(Barbu et al., 1975); - Băneasa (CT) M. mystacinus (Decu et al., 2003).

It seems that at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, in June there is a small nursery

colony. We captured a lactating female and another female at the end of August, when the bat emerged the cave. The status of this species is not yet well defined (Ifrim & Pocora,

2007).

Vespertilio murinus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Parti-colored Bat

Material: - Casian Cave (CT), 28.06.2006: c. 1 young f, 1 young m.

Previous records: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT), 31.07.1979: c. 1 f

(Cerveny, 1982).

In the studied area, we identified a nursery colony, in a crack that borders the

entrance of the Casian Cave, at 5 m high; there were captured 2 offspring’s, 3-4 weeks

old.

Myotis bechsteinii (Kuhl, 1817) – Bechstein’s Bat

Collected data by the authors: - Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei (CT),

17.06.2007: c. 1 am; 5.09.2008: c. 1 am. Previous records: - “La Adam” Cave (CT), 1956-1958: fossils remains

(Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963).

Myotis bechsteinii is an accidental species in Dobrogea.

Rhinolophus hipposideros (Bechstein, 1800) – Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Collected data by the authors: - Hagieni Tunnel (CT), 20.05.2008: o. 1 ex.; -

Limanu Cave (CT), 17.1220.08: o. 1 ex.

Previous records: - Cave from Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.1974: c. 1am, 1af

(Cerveny, 1982); - Limanu Cave (CT), 4.10., 2.11.1958: few ex. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-

1963); - Cave no. 2 Canaraua Fetii (CT), iul. 1958: few ex. (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-

1963); - Băneasa (CT), forest district Negureni, 24.07.1993: 1 m (Răduleț & Stănescu,

1996); Grote from Valea Urluia, 22.06.1996: o. 1fpreg (Răduleț, 2005). Lesser Horseshoe bat is an accidental species for the caves of Dobrogea.

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Myotis emarginatus (Geoffroy, 1806) – Geoffroy’s Bat

Collected data by the authors: - Hagieni Tunnel (CT), 14.05.07: o. 6 ex. (summer col.)

Previous records: - „La Adam” Cave (CT), 1957: fossil remains; - Canaraua

Fetii Cave (CT), July 1955 and 1958 (summer col.) (Dumitrescu et al., 1962-1963); -

Cave from Valea Cheii (CT), 18.07.1974: c. 1 am (Cerveny, 1982).

Protection

Due to a decline in their numbers, all Romanian bats are protected by law. Bats

are particularly vulnerable to disturbance; they give birth to a single offspring every year,

so disturbing a maternity colony can have a significant adverse impact on the area’s bat

population. They are also vulnerable during hibernation, as frequent disturbance from

torpidity reduces their chance of surviving the winter.

Site protection for bats normally consists of incorporating a grille at the entrance, allowing free access for bats but limiting human access. Such grilles are usually made of

horizontal bars with 130-150 mm gaps and vertical bars spaced at between 450 mm and

750 mm. A smaller gap as 100 mm by 250 mm may allow access for bats, but may limit

air flow to the extent that the site will not achieve maximum bat potential. In some

circumstances, bats can react negatively to the presence of grilles. This is the case with

Rhinolophus mehelyi, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis myotis and Myotis oxygnathus

during the birth season. In these cases, fences should be used (Mitchell-Jones et al., 2000).

Blocking of entrance to bat hibernacula can change the microclimate in the cave, the

species compositions and/or abundance of hibernating bats (Baranauskas, 2006). Even

quite small changes to the topography of a site, both inside and outside can have far-

reaching effects on its suitability for bats, mainly by altering the air-flow through the system and hence the temperature and humidity (Mitchell-Jones et al., 2000). Limanu

Cave was closed improperly, therefore Miniopterus schreibersii disappeared from the

cave, and it seems that birth colony of Rhinolophus mehelyi was reduced. In 1974

Cerveny captured in a single night 21 exemplars at the principal entrance, but we didn’t

catch any bat here, bats preferring to exit by a secondary entrance. Unfortunately, this one

was closed with concrete.

The caves from Dobrogea are readily accessible without any special equipment

or preparation. Here, casual disturbance by the curios is a problem, as vandalism (at

Limanu Cave), the lighting of fires, the dumping of waste (Bats Cave from Gura

Dobrogei) or even de deliberate killing of bats (Hagieni Tunnel). But the uncontrolled

tourism was and still is what most affected bat populations in these shelters. Especially at

Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, frequent visits of dozens of tourists, entering the cave unprepared, especially during birth colonies, led to complete or almost complete

disappearance of colonies belonging to species: Rhinolophus mehelyi, Miniopterus

schreibersii, Myotis oxygnathus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Thus only in our study

(2006-2009), if at Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei, in 2006-2008 was present a winter

colony of 100-120 exemplars; in 2009 we only found 25 exemplars. At Limanu Cave in

winter we found only 2-3 exemplars, and at Hagieni Tunnel, the small winter colony of

Minioterus schrebersii disappeared completely in 2009. It seems that the same situation

was seen in the winter of 2010 (Oana Chachula, pers. comm.).

Bats Cave from Gura Dobrogei is the only cave in Dobrogea that in the past

sheltered thousands of bats in summer, now there are only 200-300 exemplars. As it does

not have adequate protection, it is the most affected cave by tourism. Maybe if the cave will be closed, in time this would restore the old colony of birth.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported through the project CNCSIS-UEFISCSU project number PN II-RU PD – 326/2010, funded by the Romanian Education and Research

Office. The authors are grateful to Farkas and Abigel Szodoray-Paradi from APLR (Bat

Association from Romania) for the equipment and the support given. We thank for the

help on the field to: Emanuel Baltag, Anca Dragu, Daniela Borda, Alexandra Ciuc, as well

to Ionuț Iorgu who improved the English.

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